La GRANGE — The scoring battle in Tuesday night’s game was between No. 3 and No. 3.

Both North Lenoir’s Jauquaz Jones and Greene Central’s Brandon Belcher finished with 18 points in the process of each point guard trying to seal the win for his team in the well-matched contest.

The Hawks stayed alive and rammed Greene Central back to Snow Hill with a 76-73 loss.

“They came out in the first half on our court playing very well,” NL coach Anthony Loftin said. “But we just couldn’t match their energy.”

The Rams (9-9 overall, 1-4 conference) produced a 19-5 lead early in the first quarter but North Lenoir chipped away at the deficit during the second period.

A Jones’ bucket sparked North Lenoir’s comeback before the half was over, as the Hawks only trailed by eight following Greene Central’s big lead.

Then the teams’ point guards lit up their scoring by driving through the paint to get baskets. Belcher scored a third of his points off 12 free throws but still had a big night against North Lenoir, including a game-high seven assists.

“Brandon was so tough,” Loftin said. “He kept getting to the free throw line, we couldn’t box him out. He was just awesome for them tonight.”

Belcher faced foul trouble Tuesday, only a piece of Greene Central’s physicality woes. The Rams had eight team fouls to North Lenoir’s three when the final quarter began, tainting GC’s forceful start.

“When you’re getting fouls called you have to be a little less aggressive,” Rams coach Jim Cole said, “so that took some of our gumption away on defense.”

The foul calls also opened up the gates for North Lenoir. While the Hawks committed a few of their own errors in a race to stay on top, team effort made up for the blunders.

After Jaroyce Mason fouled Belcher for a pair to get GC the 73-72 lead with 37.7 seconds left in the game, Mason drew a foul on his basket at the other end to follow up. Mason missed the extra point, but his teammates sustained the lead.

Page 2 of 8 - Mason was the third player to score 18 points. Javonta King was the other Hawk in double figures with 11, as Jones led in rebounding with a game-high 10. Greene Central’s A.J. Davis also had 11 points.

“We … didn’t execute like we were supposed to in the first half but had to go out in the second half and protect your house,” Mason said. “It was back and forth and it was a close game. I knew from the beginning that was a good team, but we were fighting out there; we wanted it more.”

Every Hawk who saw the floor had at least two points or a rebound.

North Lenoir travelled to Ayden-Grifton Wednesday for a make-up game with the Chargers and stay on the road at South Lenoir Friday.

Girls’ game:

Usually a perimeter team, North Lenoir showed it can score inside, too.

The Hawks beat Greene Central Tuesday, 58-41, as NL’s Quoya Porter led the way with 15 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.

Alyssa Borja was the other Hawk in double figures with 12.

GC had a strong start and led North Lenoir, 19-15, after one energetic quarter. The Rams were communicating well and playing tough defense, but after Erica Lee fed to Mikayla Kremer for a trey and NL’s first lead, GC didn’t recover.

For 36 seconds before the break, GC couldn’t find a shot.

The Rams’ leading scorer was Bria Peyton with 15. Tamira Campbell led all on the glass with 12 rebounds. Kremer grabbed a team-high seven boards for North Lenoir.

Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.